Joint construction



g- 1956 E. J. DE RIDDER JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4. 1961 m ggy!!! INVENTOR ERNST J. DQRIDDER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,264,020 JOINT CONSTRUCTION Ernst J. De Ridden, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., 2 corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,738 10 Claims. (Cl. 287189.36)

This invention relates to improved joint constructions and to improved methods for making the same or the like. This invention also relates to improved members for such joint constructions or the like.

In particular, each joint construction of this invention includes a first joint member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein and respectively receiving adjacent ends of a pair of sheets or the like to be subsequently interconnected together whereby one side of the sheets is disposed in engagement with the first joint member.

A pair of second joint members are operatively interconnected to the first joint member intermediate the channels thereof, the second joint members defining a slot therebetween and respectively engaging the other sides of the sheets.

A wedge-like member is inserted or driven into the slot between the second joint members and causes the second joint members to compress the ends of the sheets against the first joint member to complete the joint construction and hold the ends of the sheets in a fixed position relative to each other.

If desired, suitable adhesive means can be disposed between the mating surfaces of the joint members and the sheets to further secure the sheets together and/or provide a moisture-proof joint construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved joint construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved joint member for such a joint construction or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a joint construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceedswi'th reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front schematic view of a typical hull construction of a boat or the like.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of one of the joint members of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illlustrates another joint member of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a wedge-like member of this invention for forming certain of the joint constructions of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is an axial, cross-sectional view illustrating one of the initial steps of forming one of the joint constructions of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates the manner of assembling the joint members of FIGURE 3 to the assembly of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6- and illustrates the joint construction of FIGURE 6 in its completed condition.

FIGURE 8 is an axial, cross-sectional view illustrating another joint construction of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 and illustrates still another joint construction of this invention.

While the joint constructions and methods of this invention are illustrated and hereinafter described as being particularly adaptable for forming joint constructions for boats or the like, it is to be understood that such joint constructions and methods can be utilized for other purposes, as desired. For example, such joint constructions and methods can be readily utilized in the container art, for forming truck and trailer bodies, for use in the building industry, and the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to the specific applications thereof illustrated in the drawings, as the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the reference numerals 10, 11 and 12 respectively indicate various joint constructions of this invention formed of parts and by methods of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

Such joint constructions 10, 11 and 12 can be readily utilized in forming the joint structure of a hull 13, FIGURE 1, of a conventional boat or the like.

In particular, the hull 13 is formed by joining the top plates or deck 14 to plate-like sides 15 at the corner or sheet joints 16. Similarly, the plate-like bottom halves 17 of the hull 13 are joined to the side plates 15 at the corner or chine joints 18. In addition, the plate-like bottom halves 17 of the hull 13 are joined together at adjacent end edges thereof at the keel 19 of the hull 13.

While the hull 13 can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the joint structure at the corners 16 and 18 thereof can be formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9, while the joint structure at the keel 19 can be formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The keel joint structure 19 and method of making the same will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, a first joint unernber 20 of this invention can be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the joint member 20 is formed from aluminum-containing metallic material or the like extruded in a conventional extruding apparatus.

The joint member 20 comprises a body portion 21 having a keel-like flange 22 extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of like legs 23 extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, the legs 23 being disposed at any desired angle relative to each other to conform to the bottom configuration of a particular boat hull utilizing the same. For example, the joint member 20 illustrated in the drawings is utilized for forming the keel joint structure of a flat bottom boat or the like.

Each leg 23 of the joint member 20 has a flange 24 extending outwardly therefrom and spaced from the other flange 24- to define a chamber 25 therebetween. Each flange 24 has an outwardly extending projection 26 on the outer end thereof facing toward the projection 26 on the other flange 24 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The flanges 24 cooperate with their respective legs 23 to define plate or sheet-receiving channels 27 therewith, the channels 27 defining upper surfaces 28 of the legs 23 of the joint member 20.

A pair of second joint member 29, FIGURE 3, are adapted to be operatively interconnected to the joint member 20 in a manner hereinafter described to form the joint construction 10 of this invention. While the joint members 29 can be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, the joint members 29 are formed by extruding aluminum-containing metallic material or the like in a conventional extruding apparatusin a manner well known in the art.

Each joint member 29 comprises a pair of legs 30 and 31 integrally interconnected together and disposed at any desired angle relative to each other.

The leg 30 of each joint member 29 has an outwardly extending projection 32 on one end 33 thereof which cooperates with the leg 31 to define a channel 34 therewith, the projection 32 being adapted to hook around a projection 26 on one of the flanges 24 of the joint member 20 in a manner'hereinafter described.

A hooked-shaped projection 35 is integrally interconnected to the other end 36 of the leg 30 of each joint member 29 and is utilized for a purpose hereinafter described.

A wedge-like member 37 is illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is utilized to complete the joint construction It) in a manner hereinafter described. While the wedge-like member 37 can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiment of the wedge-like member 37 illustrated in the drawings is formed from aluminum-containing metallic material or the like extruded in a conventional extruding apparatus.

The wedge-like member 37 has a pair of angularly dis-. posed sides 38 and a pair of opposed ends 39 and 40. Each side 38 of the wedge-like member 37 is provided with a recess 41 adjacent the larger end 39 thereof to cooperate with the hooked-shaped projections 35 of the jointmembers 29 in a manner hereinafter described.

When 'it is desired to interconnect together adjacent plate-like or sheet-like members 42, FIGURE 5, by the I joint construction to form the bottom of the hull 13 or the like, the adjacent ends 43 of the sheets 42 are disposed in the channels 27 of the joint member in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5. If desired, suitable layers of adhesive 44 can be interposed between the mating surfaces of the sheets 42 and the joint member 20 by either applying the adhesive to the sheets 42 or to the surfaces 28 of the joint member 20, or both, as desired.

Thereafter, a pair of joint members 29 are operatively interconnectedto the joint member 20 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the projections 32 of the legs of the joint members 29 are respectively hooked around the projections 26 of the flanges 24 of the joint member 20. When the joint members 29 are thus interconnected to the joint member 20, the under surfaces 45 of the legs 31 of the joint members 29 are disposed closely I adjacent the upper surfaces of the sheets 42.

If desired, a suitable layer of adhesive 46 can be interposed between the mating surfaces of the joint members 29 and the sheets 42 by either applying the adhesive to the upper surfaces of the sheets 42 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 or applying the adhesive to the under surfaces 45 of the joint members 29, or both, as desired.

When the joint members 29 are interconnected to the joint member 20 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6, the legs 30 of the joint members 29 cooperate together to define a slot 47 between the joint members 29.

Thereafter, the wedge-like member 37 of FIGURE 4 is driven downwardly into the slot 47 between the joint members 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 by hammering on the end 39 of the wedge-like member 37 whereby the wedge-like member 37 cams the legs 30 of the joint members 29 outwardly, and, through the elasticity of the material ofthe joint members 29, forces the legs 31 thereof downwardly against the sheets 42 to compact the sheets 42 between the joint members 29 and 20 whereby the sheets 42 are firmly held between the joint members 29 and 20 to complete the joint construction 10.

As the wedge-like member 37 is driven into the slot 47 between the joint members 29, the projections on the legs 36 of the joint members 29 are subsequently received in the recesses 41 of the wedge-like member 37 to hold the wedge-like member 37 in its fully inserted position between the joint members 29.

Because the legs 30 of the joint members 29 are initially disposed at greater angles to the legs 31 thereof before the wedge-like member 37 is driven therebetween, as illustrtaed in FIGURE 6, the wedge-like member 37 causes the legs 31 of the joint members 29 to be compactly compressed against the ends 43 of the sheets 42 when the wedge-like member 37 is driven between the joint members 29 and cams the legs 30 outwardly whereby the sheets 42 are firmly held in place in the joint construction 10.

Such compression action of the legs 31 of the joint members 29 is sufficient to hold the sheets 42 in place and further enhance the adhesive qualities of the layers of adhesive 44 and 46, if utilized, the adhesive layers 44 and 46 not only further securing the sheets 42 in the joint construction 10 by providing a double shear action, but also rendering the joint construction 10 substantially moisture-proof.

Therefore, it can be seen that the novel joint construction 10 is not only adapted to interconnect together adjacent elements 42 in a unique and simple manner, but the joint construction 10 is also adapted to form the keel structure of a boat or the like.

While the joint member 20 has been illustrated and described as forming a keel structure of a boat or the like, it is to be understood that the keel portion 22 thereof can be eliminated, if desired, whereby the joint structure 10 can be utilized for other purposes, as is evident.

For example, the joint construction 10 can be modified in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 to interconnect together the sheets 42 at right angles relative to each other or at any other desired angle.

The modified joint construction 11 illustrated in FIG- URE 8 comprises a first joint member 48 having a pair of angularly disposed legs 49 respectively provided with sheet-receiving channels 50 respectively defined by outwardly projecting flanges 51 of the joint member 48.

A pair of like joint members 52 are adapted to be respectively operatively interconnected to the joint member 48 by having the hooked-shaped ends 53 of the legs 54 thereof hooked around the flanges 51 of the joint member 48, whereby the other legs 55 of the joint members 52 areadapted to cooperate with the legs 49 of the joint member 48 to compress the adjacent ends 43 of the sheets 42 therebetween in the same manner as the joint construction 10 previously described.

In particular, a wedge-like member 56 is adapted to be driven into the slot defined between the legs 54 of the joint members 52 to cam the legs 54 outwardly and thereby cause the legs 55 to compress the sheets 42 against the legs 49 of the joint member 48 and thereby hold the sheets 42 in the joint construction 11. The wedge-like member 56, in a manner similar to the wedge-like member 37, is provided with opposed recesses 57 which respectively receive hooked-shaped projections 58 on the legs 54 of the joint members 52 when the wedge-like member 56 is fully driven between the joint members 52 to hold the wedgelike member 56 in the joint construction 11.

Initially, the legs 54 and 55 of each joint member 52 are disposed at a greater angle relative to each other than when the wedge 56 is driven between the adjacent joint members 52 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the elasticity of the material of the joint members 52 causes the legs 55 thereof to compress against the ends 43 of the sheets 42 to hold the sheets 42 in the joint construction 11.

' Also, suitable layers of adhesive 59 can be disposed between the mating surfaces of the sheets 42 and the joint members 48 and 52 to further hold the sheets 42 in the joint construction 11 and provide a moisture-proof joint construction.

' Therefore, it can be seen that the joint construction 11 of this invention is adapted to interconnect together adjacent plate-like or sheet-like elements in any angular relation relative to each other in a simple and effective manner.

If desired, the sheets 42 can be interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9 by the joint construction 12 of this invention.

The joint construction 12 of this invention is similar to the joint construction 11 previously described, except for the following features.

The first joint member 60 of the joint construction 12 has a pair of angularly disposed legs 61 respectively provided with outwardly directed flanges 62 and 63 defining sheet-receiving channels 64 in the manner previously described. The flange 62 has a beveled surface 65 which cooperates with a hooked-shaped end 66 of a joint member 67 formed in a manner similar to the joint member 52 previously described.

The joint member 67 has a pair of legs 68 and 69 integrally interconnected together whereby the leg 69 thereof cooperates with an adjacent leg 61 of the joint member 60 to compress the end 43 of its respective sheet 42 therebetween in the manner previously described.

A third joint member 70 comprises a single leg having a hooked-shaped end 71 operatively interconnected to the flange 63 of the joint member 60 and respectively cooperating with the adjacent leg 61 to compress the end 43 of the sheet 42 therebetween when a wedge-shaped member 72 is driven into the slot defined between the joint members 67 and 70, as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

In order to hold the wedge-like member 72 in the joint construction 12, the leg 68 of the joint member 67 has a hooked-shaped projection 73 on the outer end thereof which is adapted to be received in a recess 74 formed in the wedge-like member 72, when the wedge-like member 72 is fully received between the joint members 67 and 70, as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

When the wedge-like member 72 is driven between the joint members 67 and 70, the wedge-like member 72 forces the leg 68 of the joint member 67 outwardly, whereby the elasticity of the material of the joint member 67 causes the leg 69 thereof to be compressed toward the leg 61 of the joint member 60 and thereby compress the end 43 of the sheet 42 therebetween. Similarly, the wedge-like member 72 forces the joint member 70 toward the leg 61 of the joint member 60 to compress the end 43 of the other sheet 42 therebetween.

If desired, suitable adhesive 75 can be applied to the mating surfaces of the sheets 42 and the joint members 60, 67 and 70 to further hold the sheets 42 in the joint construction 12 and to provide a moisture-proof joint construction.

Accordingly, it can be seen that each of the joint constructions of this invention is formed in a relatively simple manner from a small number of basic parts assembled together in such a manner that the resulting joint construction is relatively strong and firmly .holds the adjacent ends of adjacent elements in fixed positions at any desired angle relative to each other.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What isiclaimed is:

1. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein to define flat surfaces throughout the Widths of said channels and a pair of spaced flanges disposed between said channels, a pair of sheets respectively disposed in said channels and respectively having one side thereof disposed in engagement with said flat surfaces of said first member and having the ends thereof disposed in engagement with said flanges, a pair of second members defining a slot therebetween and respectively having flat surfaces engaging the other sides of said sheets to prevent pivotal movement of said sheets relative to said members, said second members respectively being operatively interconnected to said flanges of said first member, adhesive means disposed between said sheets and said members, and a wedge-like member disposed in said slot and causing said second members to compress said sheets against said first member whereby said adhesive means is placed in double shear.

2. A joint construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wedge-like member is interlocked with said second members.

3. A joint construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second members each have a hooked-shaped portion hooked around its respective flange on said first member.

4. A joint construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first member is a keel of a boat or the like.

5. A joint construction .as set forth in claim 1 wherein said joint construction forms a corner of a hull of a boat orrthe'like.

6. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein to define fiat surfaces throughout the widths of said channels, a pair of sheets respectively disposed in said channels and respectively having one side thereof in engagement with said flat surfaces of said first member and having one end thereof disposed against said first member, a pair of second members defining a slot therebetween and respectively having flat surfaces engaging the other sides of said sheets to prevent pivotal movement of said sheets relative to said members, said second memers being operatively interconnected to said first member, adhesive means disposed between said sheets and said members, and a wedge-like member dispoesd in said slot and causing said second members to compress said sheets against said first member whereby said adhesive means is placed in double shear.

7. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein to define flat surfaces throughout the widths of said channels, a pair of sheets respectively disposed in said channels and respectively having one side thereof disposed in engagement with said flat surfaces of said first member and having one end thereof disposed against said first member, compression means operatively interconnected to said first member and having flat surfaces engaging the other sides of said sheets to prevent pivotal movement of said sheets relative to said member, said compression means having a slot provided therein, adhesive means disposed between said sheets and said compression means and first member, and wedge-like means disposed in said slot and causing said compression means to compress said sheets against said first member whereby said adhesive means is placed in double shear.

8. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of channels provided therein to define surfaces throughout the widths of said channels, a pair of elements respectively disposed in said channels and engaging the entire surfaces of said first member and having one end thereof disposed against said first member, compression means operatively interconnected to said first member and engaging said elements to prevent pivotal movement of said elements relative to said member, said compression means having a slot provided therein, adhesive means disposed between said elements and said compression means and first member, and a wedge-like member disposed in said slot and causing said compression means to compress said elements against said first member whereby said adhesive means is placed in double shear.

9. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein to define fiat surfaces throughout the widths of said channels and a pair of spaced flanges disposed between said channels, a pair of sheets respectively disposed in said channels and respectively having one side thereof disposed in engagement with said surfaces of said first member and having ends disposed against said flanges,

a pair of second members each having a pair of legs, one leg of each second member being disposed in engagement with the other side of one of said sheets to prevent pivotal movement of said one sheet relative to said members and the other leg thereof cooperating with the other leg on the other second member to define a slot between said second members, said second members being operatively interconnected to said first member, adhesive means disposed between said sheets and said members, and a wedge-like member disposed in said slot and causing said one legs of said second members to compress said sheets against said first member whereby said adhesive mean is placed in double shear.

10. A joint construction comprising a first member having a pair of sheet-receiving channels provided therein to define flat surfaces throughout the widths of said channels and a pair of outwardly directed and spaced flanges disposed between said channels, a pair of sheets respectively disposed in said channels and respectively having one side thereof engaging said surfaces of said first member and having ends disposed against said flanges, a pair of second members each having -a pair of legs, one leg of each second member having a hookedshaped end engaging one of said flanges and preventing movement of said second member in .a particular direction relative to said first member, said one leg of each second member being disposed spaced from said one leg of the other second member to define a slot between said second members and having an outwardly extending projection facing the projection on the other second member, the other leg of each second member being disposed in engagement with the other sides of said sheets to prevent pivotal movement of said sheets relative to said members,

References Cited by the Examiner I UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,235 10/1896 Rockwell 20 92 1,697,153 1 /1929 Waddington' 1:39 35 1,793,503 2/1931 M-ichaels 52 475 2,213,402 9/1940 Lowry 52 2s2 2,839,790 6/1958 Collings 52 5s9 2,898,647 8/1959 Bush et a1. 52 399 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,349 6/1946 GreatBritain.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

CORNELIUS D. ANGEL, Examiner. W. H. SCHULTZ, J. LISTER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A JOINT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SHEET-RECEIVING CHANNELS PROVIDED THEREIN TO DEFINE FLAT SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE WIDTHS OF SAID CHANNELS AND A PAIR OF SPACED FLANGES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHANNELS, A PAIR OF SHEETS RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN SAID CHANNELS AND RESPECTIVELY HAVING ONE SIDE THEREOF DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLAT SURFACES OF SAID FIRST MEMBER AND HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGES, A PAIR OF SECOND MEMBERS DEFINING A SLOT THEREBETWEEN AND RESPECTIVELY HAVING FLAT SURFACES ENGAGING THE OTHER SIDES OF SAID SHEETS TO PREVENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEETS RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBERS, SAID SECOND MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY BEING OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID FLANGES OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, ADHESIVE MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SHEETS AND SAID MEMBERS, AND A WEDGE-LIKE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID SLOT AND CAUSING SAID SECOND MEMBERS TO COMPRESS SAID SHEETS AGAINST SAID FIRST MEMBER WHEREBY SAID ADHESIVE MEANS IS PLACED IN DOUBLE SHEAR. 